Chaeles g



(No Model.)

G. G. PERKINS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH AND GUT-OUT. No. 287,322. g Patented Oct; 23, 1883.

ATTEST INVENTU yhw g ,flw i MM 2% Li u. PETERS. mc-umlww. wanm. n. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIcE.

CHARLES C. PERKINS, OF NE\V YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE lMPERIALELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC SWITCH AND CUT-OUT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 287,329, dated October23, 1883.

Application filed May 10, 1883.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES G. PERKINS,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in thecounty of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in an Electric Switch and Automatic Cut-Out, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an electric safetyswitch provided with fourpoles and automatic cut-out, the whole placed in the main electricalcircuit between a generator and electric lamps.

The first part of my invention consists of a cylindrical box made ofinsulating material, provided with a swivel-pin on the bottom thereof.Said box is also provided with a series of flat metallic spring-bladesfastened onto the exterior thereof and projecting therefrom. The upperend of the box is also provided with notches, which will be more fullyde scribed hereinafter.

The second part of my invention consists of two clasping-springs held tothe interior of said cylindrical box. by means of screws and nuts, saidsprings holding astrip of metal usually employed for cut-outs. V

The third part of my invention consists of a block of insulatingmaterial having a circular aperture therein. Said block is provided withfour metallic plates, representing the four poles, projcctingslightlyinto the aperture and connected with the mainline wires leading from agenerator to the electric lamps.

The fourth part of my invention consists of a circular block made ofinsulating material, mounted with a ring of flat spring metal, a portionof which projects therefrom. The said block is also provided with anupright passing through a cover hinged to the main structure. Saidupright projection is connected witlra suitable handle, to be operatedwhen opening and closing the circuit.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan view of the satetyswitch andautomatic cutout, with its cover raised in a perpendicular position, andshown in section. Fig. 2 repre sents a vertical section taken on linea." m.

Similar letters refer to similar parts th roughout the drawings, inwhicha represents the cylindrical box, with flat Springs 6 Z) Z) I)fastened thereto by means of (No model.)

the screws and nuts 0 c c c, the whole turning on the swivcl-eonnection(Z. c c are the clasping-springs, holding the cut-out wire or strip f inposition. 9 are the notches on the 5 5 upper end of the cylindrical boxa. The box a is arranged within the aperture h of the main block it,which is provided with the metallic plates 6 t" 2' 2', representing thefour poles c011- nected with the main-line wires. 7c isthe cover, heldto the main block h by the hinges Z. on is the circular block ofinsulating material, provided with the fiat spring a, with the portion01 thereof projecting therefrom, and is also provided with an uprightprojection, of.

Mode of operation: \Vhenever the cut-out wire shall have been properlyadjusted, the cover is closed and ready to perform its funetions. Ifmore current should attempt to pass through the cut-out than could beaccomlnodated by the lamps,'the wire .iorming the said cut-out will meltand thus break the circuit.

If the attendant desires to break the circuit,

he should turn the switch-handle 0 until the portion 91. comes incontact with one of the notches g, which will cause the box (6 to turnand carry with it the springs I) b b b" until they shall have snappedoff from the plates 1? i i" 1"", thus cutting out the four poles, theresult of which prevents a short circuit be- So tween the lamps and thesource of electric energy. The circuit may again be closed by turningthe handle further on. 'When the circuit is broken in this manner,thesprings fall into the notch 19, which prevents said springs 8 5 fromcoming in contact with the metallic plates representing the four polesof the switch-box when by accident they should be turned the other way.XVhen the circuit shall have been broken by the melting of the cut-outwire, another may be placed therein without dil'iiculty and immediately.

The circuit-The current passes through the positive main-line wire 9 andenters the block at 1 thence to the plate 2', to the spring I), 5 fromwhich it passes to the screw 0,- thence to the claspingspring e, to thecut-out wire f, from which it passes to the spring 0; thence to thescrew 0, to the spring-blade b,- thence to the plate Z, from which itpasses to the main-line IOO wire y at 2, to the lamps, through-which itpasses to the negative main-line wire y, to the I asme plate i thence tothe spring b", to the screw a"; thence to the wire 2, to the screw 0from but I am not aware that they have ever been which it passes to theblade b thence to the plate i, to the negative main-line wire at 3, backto the source of electric energy.

I am aware that combined switches and cutoutshave heretofore been madewith four poles;

made with devices for quickly breaking or closing the main circuit, thuspreventing the current from burning or destroying the switch mechanism.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination with controlling mechanism of an electric switchhaving four poles and automatic cut-out, the cylindrical box a,

. having notch g, swivel-pin d, spring-blades b I) b ll screws 0 c c c,clasping-springs ec, and cut-out wire 2, substantially as shown anddescribed. I

2. In combination with the circuit closer and breaker of an electricswitch and automatic cut-out, the circular block m, flatspring n, andprojection n, inv combination with vthe upright projection n handle 0,and cover k,

CHARLES G. PERKINS.

\Vitnesses:

J. A. HURDLE, GEORGE BECKER.

